I've arrived! Everyone asks me: "What were your first impressions?" Probably the view of the USA from the airplane window! All I saw were: flower-shaped highway interchanges, golf courses, and of course, a pool near almost every house!

At the airport, there was a long line at customs, but after the officer asked: "Do you have anything illegal, any food or drinks?", I replied: "No, just chocolate!". Since I was only 20, I was a minor in America, and they have strict rules regarding alcohol consumption. I'll be honest, I had a couple of bottles of vodka in my suitcase (not for myself), but as a small souvenir for my employer and where I would be living! But I still had to get there...

I took the train to Manhattan. YES, I lived in the center of New York at 1 River Place on the 31st floor, which is about a 7-10 minute walk to Times Square!!! Watch the video on my blog: www.work-and-travel-blog.com!

It sounds like a fairy tale, just like in the song: "I would like to live in Manhattan...".

How did I manage it? I got lucky!

My employer helped me find a place to live. Jeff, who I lived with, was constantly traveling and needed a housekeeper and someone to look after the apartment. Of course, he didn't say "you live here" right away, but after a long conversation and signing a property liability document. It was cool! A second job without pay, but in exchange for work – housing! I didn't worry about the apartment, because there was a doorman downstairs and the building had its own security! That's how it was!

The first few days I didn't work, as the head salesperson hadn't gone on vacation yet. I explored the city!

Everyone probably knows the height of the buildings in this metropolis, but seeing it for real is indescribable!!! But I didn't feel small against these giants that support the sky; on the contrary, they seemed to be tossing me upwards!

At first, it was strange to see so many nationalities, but then it became habitual, I even stopped paying attention to it.

It was also important that I had never seen so many planes flying overhead in my entire life. Sometimes it seemed like it wouldn't fit between the buildings or, conversely, it was too low. By the end of the trip, I could even guess which airline the plane belonged to.

Of course, the first place I walked was Times Square and Broadway!

This is a city of big advertising. In Times Square, people just sit on the street (on special bleachers) and look at the buildings and billboards! I wanted to feel that too. After buying a cup of coffee at the nearest McDonald's, I sat down on the bleachers.

Looking at all this, you realize how fast life is! After all, thousands of people walk along this street, someone is sitting on the sidewalk chewing their hamburger, and another is trying to catch a taxi... everything is in motion here!